The U.S. State Department confirmed that a the $400 million cash shipment to Iran was tied to a prisoner release that occurred last January. We didn’t here, and we won’t in the future, ” CNN reported.
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The Obama administration is conceding that the $400 million cash payment it made to Iran in January was contingent on the release of Iranian-American prisoners. And yet, the Obama administration repeatedly sought to separate them from one another – even as Republicans have nearly universally accused it of paying a “ransom” for American “hostages”. “I am outraged that we can not rely on our own President to tell us the truth”.
The agreement, which also coincided with the announcement of the controversial Iranian nuclear deal, called for the return of the $400 million, plus an additional $1.3 billion in interest.
Administration officials said the two transactions were negotiated entirely separately over a period of years. US officials wouldn’t let Iran bring the cash home from a Geneva airport until a Swiss Air Force plane carrying three of the freed Americans departed from Tehran, the paper reported.
“At least we got those people home, and there are no apologies for that whatsoever”, he said. Notably, the $400 million payment was made despite concerns expressed by senior Justice Department officials that the payment would appear to be a ransom.
The various demands led the U.S.to believe there was a possibility the American prisoners would be returned to Iran’s notorious Evin prison, the official said. The president also said that the reason why the money was given in cash was because the United States is “so strict in maintaining sanctions” and because the country has “no banking relationship” with Iran.
The funds were part of a trust fund Iran used before its 1979 Islamic Revolution to buy U.S. military equipment that was tied up for decades in litigation at the tribunal.
Also, said Kirby, Iran was “playing games” over whether one of the hostages would be able to get on the plane, and the Obama administration was anxious if Iran was going to “somehow pull a fast one” in the final hours of the prisoners’ release.
“Already under fire for lying to the American people about her illegal email server, Clinton is continuing to align herself with an administration that has continually lied to Americans as well”, Trump spokesman Jason Miller said. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said Thursday.
He added: “When my Senate colleagues and I get back into session, the administration will no longer be able to hide from giving Americans straight answers”.
Some observers, however, said Thursday they don’t see the distinction.
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At an August 4 news conference at the Pentagon, Obama said nothing nefarious occurred. He also may have omitted this detail because some of the same Republicans who cried ransom also opposed (and continue to oppose) the worldwide agreement that placed limitations on Iran’s nuclear program, a signature achievement of Obama’s foreign policy and, by most accounts, a success.
